Study Indicates H Pylori Infection Causes Leaky Gut Syndrome!

“Leaky Gut Syndrome” is a term describing damage done to the stomach and intestinal wall by food, infections, nutrient deficiencies and toxins. Under normal circumstances gut cells are pulled tightly together to prevent molecules leaking from the gut into the blood stream in an inappropriate fashion.

The places where these cells are pulled together are called “tight junctions”. When bad bugs like H pylori, or foods such as gluten cause inflammation and tissue damage, the tight junctions can become separated, with tiny gaps appearing between the cells and this is called “leaky gut”.

A leaky gut can cause many symptoms to develop because once molecules begin leaking through the gut wall into the bloodstream, the immune system may start attacking them, which in some people causes symptoms such as fatigue, arthritis and headaches. According to researchers in Portugal:

H. pylori interferes with epithelial tight junction integrity by altering the localization of junction proteins, compromising the barrier function. H. pylori-induced gastritis includes the production of pro-inflammatory molecules known to be implicated in deregulation of paracellular permeability in intestinal cell lines. 

The Portuguese researchers wanted to determine how H pylori causes the tight junction separation. They found that the bacteria cause changes in stomach cell proteins, leading to electrical changes. As a result, the tight junctions are damaged.

Reference

A. C. Costa et al. H. pylori disturbs gastric epithelial tight junctions in an inflammation-independent manner. XXIII International Workshop on Helicobacter and Related Bacteria in Chronic Digestive Inflammation and Gastric Cancer. Rotterdam, September 16–18, 2010. P.318.

Dave Hompes’ Comments

Leaky gut is a very important factor to consider in all illness and disease. As undigested food particles, toxins, bacteria and other unwanted invaders begin seep through the gut wall and into the blood stream, the load on the body’s immune system increases. The immune system gradually has to work harder and the liver has to work hard to clear the unwanted particles. If the total load of particles leaking through the gut wall is too large for the body to cope, symptoms and disease are guaranteed.

Food antigens leaking through the gut wall cause allergic reactions, toxins cause allergic reactions and direct toxic effects, the hormone system becomes imbalanced and the usual mechanism for absorbing nutrients is compromised. The end result:

• A plethora of “bad” things getting into the body that shouldn’t be there.

• Inadequate amounts of “good” things getting into the body that are required for optimal function.

H pylori infection is by no means the only cause of leaky gut syndrome and a partial list of factors causing leaky gut includes:

• H pylori infection
• Parasite infection
• Yeast and fungal overgrowth
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Gluten
• Processed food
• Alcohol consumption
• Stress
• Mercury toxicity and other heavy metals
• NSAID use (aspirin, etc.)

To fix a leaky gut, we simply help you remove what shouldn’t be there and put back what should. It’s a very simple, yet extremely powerful process.

Recommendations That May Help You Overcome H Pylori & “Patch-Up” A Leaky Gut:

• If you have Helicobacter pylori and want to learn more about it without staring at a computer screen for hours on end, all the information on this website, as well as detailed diet and supplement program for healing your digestive system can be found in my book, The H Pylori Diet.

• The program in the book also helps you remove foods that cause a leaky gut, whilst replacing them with delicious alternatives.

• To have a healthy gut lining, parasites, fungal overgrowth and other unwanted invaders should be removed. Read about our comprehensive stool testing services to find out how this powerful tool can help you overcome chronic symptoms. Click here for more information.

• Vitamin D levels need to be optimized and we find nearly all our clients are deficient in vitamin D when we test them. You may like to consider running a vitamin D test with your doctor, or by contacting us.

• Replace “good” bacteria – our comprehensive stool test informs you of your good bacteria levels (also known as “predominant bacteria”) so you can truly individualize and fine-tune your program.
• If you would like one-to-one, discreet, personalized support from one of the Hompes Method team, please click here. Ever since I was diagnosed with H pylori in 2007 – having eradicated it using diet changes, herbs and nutritional supplements – it has been my mission to help people like you around the world understand and overcome health challenges using an integrated health approach. Where possible we work closely with the medical profession to combine the best of conventional medicine with our cutting edge clinical nutrition and functional medicine techniques. It is our hope that we can help you achieve your health related goals.

 

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by using the web-form, below.

In love and light,

Dave Hompes & The Hompes Method team